Sole-affixing machine



NOV 3, 1936. w, Q D, JR 7 2,059,847

SOLE AFFIXING MACHINE Filed. March 11, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fig -1- wiLl-lAM c. CARD, INVENTORI BY ATTORNEY NOV. 3, 1936. w c CARD JQR I 2,059,847

SOLE AFFIXING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WILLIAM C. CARD, INVENTOR BY IMYTORNEY M, WNW I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

2 d 'a am sfb ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1936. w. c. CARD, JR

V SOLE AFFIXING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1931- Nov. 3, 1936. w, c CARD, J 2,059,847

' SOLE AFFIXING MACHINE Filed March 11, 1951. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Bagg /M mdyh 2&- Y Mm ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 3, 1936 PATENT OFFICE SOLE-AFFIXIN G MACHINE William 0. Card, Jr., Winthrop, Mass., assignor to Compo Shoe Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application March 11, 1931, Serial No. 522,738

28 Claims.

This invention relates to presses for use in the manufacture of shoes and more particularly to that type of shoe press which is adapted for use in those presses wherein the outer sole is afiixed to the lasted upper by means of an adhesive cement.

A general object of the invention is to provide a press which is simple and sturdy in construction, efiicient in operation in which the shoe may be clamped with a minimum expenditure of the operatorstime, and which holds the shoe securely in position under pressure.

' A more particular object of the invention is to provide a shoe press having a base portion, an

objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the invention. J

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the same embodiment, shown with the shoe in place.

- Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure '3.

Figure 5 is 'a front elevation showing the valve mechanism.

Figure 6 is aside elevation of another embodiment of the invention, certain parts being broken.

away for convenience of illustration. Figure 7 is a plan view of the frame portion of the press body.

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view of Figure 6, taken along the line 8-8.

Figure 9 is a detail front elevation taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 6.

This case is a. continuation in part of applicant's copending applicationSerial No. 427,722, filed February 12, 1930.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

inthe embodiment shown there is provided a base member H) which is generally rectangular in shape and may be conveniently made of light metal such as aluminum or the like.

it) is provided with a cavity H, the bottom of which is shaped to conform in longitudinal contour substantially to a shoe last, and in which is disposed an inflatable rubber pad l2 which may, if desired, be provided with a casing i3 of leather or the like.-

- Extending medially across the base portion from front to rear is a bow member 14 adapted to support an instep pad i5 and a bearing member Hi. The instep pad l5 may comprise a mushroom shaped rubber pad having its stem I! carried within a recess l8 in a lug H! which projects downwardly from the bow member M.

The bearing member I 6 may take the form of a fiat plate adapted to bear against the upper 'heel portion of the last and supported from the bow member I4 by a screw nipple 20. This construction permitsthe bearing member Hi to engage with lasts of varying lengths and makes it unnecessary accurately to position the lasted shoe beneath the bearing member and the instep pad.

The casing l3 has a bottom portion 22 adapted to lie along and conform to the bottom portion of the cavity II and a top portion 23, adapted to bear up against the underside of the shoe. The portions 22 and 23 are joined by a vertical portion 24 of a height substantially level with the sole to permit the top portion 23 to bear up above the level of the sole at its periphery so as to exert pressure against the sole even at its extreme edge. To effect this result, it is desirable that the top portion 23 be materially concaved, even when shoes of small vertical height The base I are being constructed... This makes it possible to utilize the same clamp for shoes of different heights without the necessity of having the parts -mechanically adjustable since the form of easing employed makes it possible to obtain the effect of such adjustment by the flexibility of the pad itself. The inflatable pad I2 is of such shape and contour as to conform to the interior of the casing.

This vertical portion 24 pereferablysupports the top portion 23 which constitutes the bearing surface to engage the underside of the sole at a slightly higher level-at the instep portion than at the other portions of the shoe, and the bearing surface 23 is also preferably somewhat wider at its centerthan at the ends in order that the proper pressure may be assured at all points.

I A conduit 28' extending through the bottom of the pad I2 and of the base I is held in place by a nut 29 to make an air tight joint. This conduit carries at its outer end a valve 30.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 provides a special means for adjusting the height of the instep pad and of the bearing member whereby the inflatable pad does not have to be so large or capable of such great expansion to take care of different vertical heights of lasts because these differences of vertical heights can be taken care of by the adjustment of the instep pad and the bearing member. In this form of the invention the bow member IIdis similar to the bow member I4 of the previous modification, but the instep pad H and the bearing member IIS are each mounted upon a vertical movable rod I20I20, which passes through an opening I2I in the bow member H4 so that the rods may be moved downwardly in position to clamp a shoe against the pad H3 prior to the inflation thereof.

In such case, the members IIS and IIS are also provided with means for releasably securing them in downward position and preferably with resilient means toraise them automatically when released. A preferred manner of accomplishing these results is shown in Figure 6 in which the horizontal member 4b is provided above each of the openings I2I with a housing I22 in the upper portionof which is seated a spring I23 which acts between a seat I24 in the housing and a head I25 on the rod member I20; the housing I22 also being provided with a longitudinal vertical slot I26 mating with a similar slot I2? in each of the rod members I20, through which slots passes a reciprocable cam bar I28.

The cam bar I28 is provided on its lower edge adjacent each slot with a cam surface I29 which is preferably stepped as shown; the steps being similar to each other so that the rod members I20 are forced downwardly to an equal extent and are held in downward position as the cam bar I28 is moved in one direction.

The cam bar I28 is also preferably provided with a handle I30 and, as will be readily understood, when the operator has placed a lasted shoe in the press, it is necessary only for the operator to pull rearwardly on the cam bar I28, whereupon the cam surfaces I29 of the bar act against the bottoms of the slots I2'l of the rod members I20 to force the members downwardly against the action of the springs I23 until the members H5 and H6 contact respectively with the instep I I! of the lasted shoe and the flat portion II8 of the shoe last, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, whereupon the pad I3 is inflated to press the sole firmly againstthe lasted upper. After the pressing operation is completed, the operator merely forces the cam bar I28 forwardly, whereupon the springs I23 raise the members H5 and I It to the position shown in full lines in Figure 6.

The elongated shape of the bearing member It or I I 6 allows shoes of varying sizes to be treated in a press constructed as above described;

since the omission of a pin to enter the last pin hole I I9 of the last I I2 eliminates the necessity of adjusting the instep pad I I5 and the, bear-. ing member H6 along the bow member Ill, and construction of the bow member H4 in a rigid or fixedjorm eliminates the pivoted clamping and bail members heretofore usually used, whereby the time and energy of the operator is saved.

Each of the forms of the press herein described is desirably connected to a continuous conveyor by means of lugs 45 so that the press may be carried conveniently to and from a shoe receiving station, and it will be understood that mechanism may be employed, either automatic or manual, for connecting with the valve 30 to deflate the pad when it is desired to remove the shoe and to admit air to the pad when the new shoe has been inserted in place.

With the form of the invention first described,

difierent heights of shoe may be taken care of without the necessity of adjusting the instep pad or the heel pad because the top surface of the casing is such that even when the enclosed pad is well inflated, it will nevertheless extend upwardly around the shoe at the sides of the sole to main tain the adjustment 'of the sole firmly in contact with the'lasted upper to insure the complete adhesion as the cement dries. With this form of the invention, therefore, it is necessary only to insert the lasted shoe in place, and it will be firmly engaged as soon as air is admitted to the pad.

In the form of the invention of Figures 6 and 7 the handle I30 is preferably pulled out until both the instep pad and the bearing member are substantially in contact with the upper surface of the lasted shoe so that the pad is not compelled to compensate-for differences in the height of the last.

A press of the kind shown in Figs. 6 and 7 facilitates the insertion and removal of the shoe and at the same time minimizes the amount of air needed properly to operate the pad.

From the above description the principles of operation of the novel features of the present invention may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. It will be understood that the press constructed as herein described may be used not only for purposes of amxing soles to shoes but also for laying soles and leveling soles, and it is therefore for purposes of convenience and simplicity of illustration that the specification and drawings have been limited to a sole-aflixing operation. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction, and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:--

l. A press of the class described comprising in combination a base, a rigid bow member and members fixedly carried thereby for engaging respectively the heel portion and the forepart portion of a lasted shoe, said rigid member being fixedly carried by said base during a loading and inflating operation, an inflatable pad adapted to conform to and engage the sole of a shoe, a casing for said inflatable pad adapted to present a ing in combination a base, a. rigid bow member, a bearing member and an instep pad fixedly carried by said rigid member'for engaging and bear ing upon the upper face of a lasted shoe, said rigid-member being fixedly carried by said base during a loading and inflating operation, and a flexible sole engaging sheet having its edges supported at. a height substantially level with the sole, and adapted to bear upon the underface of a sole, an inflatable pad and means for confining said pad beneath and by said bearing surface,and means including said pad for moving said sole engaging sheet through a vertical displacement sufl'icient to press it firmly against the sole and to compensate by inflation alone for substantial variations in employed last sizes.

3A A device of the character described including in combination a cupped base, a rigid bow member fixedly attached to said base during a loading operation, a last contacting seat and an instep pad immovably carried by said bow member, a flexible pad, a flexible sole engaging sheet, means for confining said pad beneath and by said sheet including means for supporting said sheet at a height to bear up above the level of a sole at its periphery, for all heights oflast.

4. A press of the class described comprising, in combination, a base member, an inflatable pad disposed on said base member, a bow member integral with the base member and disposed over said pad, said bow member being provided with a pair of vertical openings disposed toward the ends of the pad, a rod slidable in each of said Openings, an instep pad onthe lower end of one of said rods, a bearing member on the lower end of the other of said rods, means for releasably holding said rods in position when they are moved downwardly, and resilient means for normally urging said rods upwardly; said bearing member having an elongated face adapted to engage with the top of the heel seat portion of shoe lasts of varying sizes.

H 5. A press of the class described comprising, in combination, a base member, an inflatable pad disposed on said base member, a bow member integral'with the base member and disposed over said pad, said bow member being provided with a pair of vertical openings disposed toward the ends of the pad, a rod slidable in each of said openings, an instep pad on the lower end of one of said rods, a' bearing member on the lower end of the other of said rods, means for releasably holding said rods in position when they are moved downwardly, and means for simultane ously forcing said rods downwardly.

6. A .press of the class described comprising, in combination, a base member, an inflatable pad disposed on said base member, a bow member integral with the base member and disposed over said pad, said bow member being provided with a pair of vertical openings-disposed toward the ends of the pad, a rod slidable in each of i said openings, an instep pad on the lower end of one of said rods, a bearing member on the over said pad, said bow member being provided,

with a pair of vertical openings disposed toward the ends of the pad, a rod. slidable in each of said openings, an instep pad on the lower end of one of said rods, a bearing member 'on the lower end of the other of said rods, means for releasably holding said rods in position when they are moved downwardly, a cam bar mounted on said bow member, and cooperative means between said cam bar and saidrods for simultaneously forcing said rods downwardly.

8. A press of the class described comprising, in combination, a base member, an inflatable pad disposed on said base member, a'bow member integral with the base member and disposed over said pad, said how member being provided with a pair of vertical openings; disposed toward the ends of the pad, a rod slidable in each of said openings, an'instep pad on the lower end of one of said rods, a bearing member on the lower end of the other of said rods, means for releasably holding said rods in position when they are moved downwardly, a vertically disposed slot in. each of said rods, and a cam bar mounted on said bow member and passing through said slots, said cam bar having a stepped edge, to provide sections of varying thickness whereby as it is moved in one direction the sections cooperate with the bottom of the end of the other of said rods, means for releasably holding said rods in position when they are moved downwardly, resilient means for normally urging said rods upwardly, each of said rods having a vertical slot, and a cam bar mounted on said bow member and passing through said slots, the lower edge of said cam bar having a pair of substantially similar cam faces each cooperating with one of said rods whereby as the cam bar is moved in one direction the rods are forced downwardly and as it is moved in the other direction the resilient means raises said rods.

10. A press of the class described comprising, in combination, a base member, an inflatable pad disposed on said base member, a. bow member integral with the base member. and disposed over said pad, said bow member being provided with a pair of vertical openings disposed toward the ends of the pad, a rod. slidable in each of said openings, an instep pad on the lower end of one of said rods, a bearing member on the lower end of the. other of said-rods, means for releasably holding said rods in position when they are moved downwardly, resilient means for normally urging said rods upwardly, each of said rods having a vertical slot, and a cam bar slidably mounted on said bow member and passing through said slots, the lower edge of said cam bar having a pair of substantially similar stepped cam faces each cooperating with one of said rods whereby as the cam bar is moved in one direction the rods are forced downwardly and as it is moved in the otherdirection the resilient means raises said rods.

11. 'A press ,of the class described comprising, in combination, a base member, an inflatable pad disposed on said base memben-a bow member said pad, said bow member being provided with a pair of vertical openings disposed toward the ends of the pad, a rod slidable in each of said openings, an instep pad on the lower end of one oi? said rods, a bearing member on the lower end of the other of said rods, means for releasably holding said rods in position when they are moved downwardly, resilient means for normally urging said rods upwardly, each of said rods having a vertical slot, and a cam bar slidably mounted on said bow member and passing through said slots, the lower edge of said cam bar having a pair of substantially similar stepped cam faces each cooperating with one of said rods whereby as the cam bar is moved in one direction the rods are forced downwardly and as it is moved in the other direction the resilient means raisessaid rods; said bearing member having an elongated face adapted to engage with the top of the heel seat portion ofshoe lasts of varying sizes.

12. A press of the class described comprising in combination, a base, supporting means for bearing upon the upper part of a lasted shoe, said supporting means being permanently and immovably located a fixed vertical distance abovesaid base during a loading operation, and an inflatable bag on said base adapted to conform to and engage the sole of a. shoe, having its side walls of greater height relative to the sole of the shoe opposite the instep portion than opposite the remaining portions of the shoe.

13. A press of the class described comprising in combination, a base, supporting means for bearing upon the upper part of a lasted shoe, said supporting means being immovably located a fixed vertical distance above said base during a loading operation, and an inflatable bag on said base adapted to conform to and engage the sole of a shoe, said bag including side walls and a sole engaging member said sole engaging member being of greater width, to provide a greater fulness, opposite the instep portion of the shoe than at other portions of .the shoe.

14. In a shoe press the combination comprising a pad adapted to conform to and engage the sole of a shoe including an inflatable pad of elastic material and a casing of inelastic material for said inflatable pad having side walls and a sole engaging portion, said side walls being higher relative to the height of the sole of the shoe opposite the instep portion than opposite the remaining portions of the shoe, and said sole engaging portion having its greatest width between such heightened portions of the sidewalls.

15. In a shoe press the combination comprising apad adapted toconform to and engage the sole of a shoe, including an inflatable pad of elastic material-and a casing of inelastic material for said inflatable pad having side walls and a sole-engag g portion, said sole engaging portion of said casing being of pronouncedly greater width, to provide a greater fulness, opposite the instep portion than opposite the other portions of the shoe.

16. A press of the class described comprising in combination, an inflatable bag adapted to conform to and engage the sole of a shoe, having its side walls of greater height relative to the sole of the shoe opposite the instep portion than opposite the remaining portions of the shoe, a

framework having means for supporting said pad, a bow member extending over said pad integral with the base member and disposed over and immovably mounted on said framework at all times, an instep member, and a last engaging member permanently fixedly carried by said bow, said last engaging member having an elongated face adapted to engage the top of the heel portions of said last whereby shoes of varying sizes may be adjusted inproper position relative to said pad without adjustment of said last engaging member.

17. A press of the class described comprising in combination an inflatable bag adapted to conform to and engage the sole of a shoe including side walls and an upper sole engaging member, said sole engaging member being of greater width, to provide a greater fulness, opposite the instep portion of the shoe than at other portions of the shoe, a framework having means for supporting-said pad, a bow member extending over said pad immovably mounted on said framework at all times during operation of the press, an instep member and a lastengaging member carried by said how, said last-engaging member having an elongated face adapted to engage the top of the heel portions of said last whereby shoes of varying sizes may be adjusted in proper position relative to said pad without adjustment of said last-engaging member.

18. A press of the class described comprising in combination an inflatable bag adapted to conform tcand engage the sole of a shoe, hav-. ing its side walls of greater height relative to the sole of the shoe opposite the, instep portion than opposite the remaining portions of the shoe and a covering surface for engaging .the sole of the shoe, whichhas a pronouncedly greater fulness at the instep engaging portion than at the other portions. 1

19. A device of the character described including in combination a cupped base, a support member fixedly attached to said base at all times, a bearing member and an instep pad fixedly carried by said support member, a flexible sole-engaging sheet, means carried by said base for supporting said sheet at a height to bear up above the level-of a sole, at its periphery,

a flexible pad adapted to lie beneath and bear against the" underside of said sheet, and means for inflating said pad.

20. A press of the class described comprising a base member having an inflatable pressure pad, and rigid supporting means adapted to hold a lasted shoe over said pad against upward displacement thereby, said supporting means including alast engaging member having a flat under-surface adapted to bear over a sufficient area of the top of a last cone to hold the last against transverse tilting, said base member and supporting means being permanently immovably interconnected to provide a press which is substantially free of movable parts, said pad having a shoe engaging diaphragm which is sufflciently vertically expansible to care for sub stantial variations in employed last sizes by means being permanently immovably interconnected whereby said frame is substantially free of moving parts, and a pad carried by said base member having a shoe engaging diaphragm which is sufliciently vertically expansible to care for substantial variations in employed last sizes by in flation alone.

said parts being immovable with respect to each other at all times, and a pad carried by said base member having a shoe engaging diaphragm which is sufficiently vertically expansible to care for substantial variations in employed last sizes by inflation alone.

23. A press of the class described comprising a base member, supporting means carried by said base member and located a fixed vertical distance therefrom throughout successive loading operations, said supporting means including a,last engaging member having an enlarged fiat under-surface adapted to bear across the top of a last cone, a vertically expansible inflatable pressure bag carried by said base member, and means for inflating said bag, said vertically expansible bag and vertically fixed supporting means being arranged to clamp different lasted shoes therebetween without adjustment of said supporting means.

24. A press of the class described comprising a base member, supporting means for engaging and bearing upon the upper face of a lasted shoe assembly, said supporting means being imvariations in employed last sizes, and means for inflating said bag.

25. A shoe press frame of relatively lightweight construction comprising a pad-supporting base member, and a rigid bow member extending longitudinally over said base member and carrying an instep pad and a last-contacting seat having an enlarged flat under-surface adapted to seat across the top of a last cone to prevent the last from tilting transversely, said base and bow member being in the form of an integral casting of relatively light metal such as aluminum, and an inflatable bag on said base member "having a shoe engaging diaphragm which is sufficiently vertically expansible to care for substantial variations in employed last sizes by inflation alone.

26. A shoe press frame of relatively light weight construction comprising a unitary casting of light metallic material, said casting having a base member provided with a pad-receiving cavity and a rigid bow member extending over said cavity, said frame including an instep pad and a last-contacting bearing member carried by said bow member.

27. A shoe press frame of relatively light weight construction comprising a unitary casting of light metallic material;[ said casting having a base member provided on its upper side with a pad receiving cavity, -a rigid bow member extending over said cavity, and attaching lugs on its lower side for attachment to a conveyor; said frame including an instep pad and a lastcontacting bearing member carried by said bow member.

28. In a shoe press the combination comprising a pad. adapted to conform to and engage the sole of a shoe, including an inflatable pad of elastic material and a casing of inelastic material for said pad, said casing including side walls or gussets and a sole engagin p rtion, said gussets being of greater vertical height opposite the instep or shank portion, than opposite the remaining portions of the shoe.

WILLIAM C. CARD, Jn. 

